Christmas may be over, but that doesn’t mean the Christmas spirit has to end.

Just what is the Christmas spirit? It probably depends on whom you ask. Some might say it’s the generosity we often associate with the holiday, whether through the giving of gifts or donating to charity. For many people, it’s about spending time together as family and friends.

While the holiday has grown beyond its Christian origins as a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, that factor remains a strong part of the Christmas spirit for many of the faithful. Yet it can also be about a chance for spiritual reflection in general.

With that in mind, many aspects of the Christmas spirit are things that can be practiced throughout the year, not just the weeks leading up to the holiday.

The Rev. Dr. Ralph Clingan, pastor of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in St. George, says the best way to promote Christmas spirit throughout the rest of the year is to continue doing the types of things you do during Christmastime.

“Continue to find ways and places to give of yourself,” he says, referring to charity and service opportunities. “Look for opportunities to help your neighbor. Put the needs and cares of others before yourself.”

Clingan acknowledges that Christmas is an important time to share together as families, but he says we should remember that our family can stretch beyond our immediate blood relatives. There is the larger human family, and we have many opportunities to connect with members of that family throughout the year.

While Christmas may focus on the birth of Christ, who is revered by Christians as their savior and redeemer, Clingan says the rest of the year offers plenty of time of remember the gift Christ gave the world by sacrificing his life. The months after Christmas provide copious opportunities to return that gift to Christ by finding other ways to develop spirituality.

Although Christmas is a Christian holiday, many aspects of the Christmas spirit transcend dogma.

“Buddhist teachings go back 2,500 years,” says Midge Henline, a LaVerkin resident who follows the teachings of Buddha. “His initial teachings are love and compassion and generosity to all other beings — animals, humans — and also happiness within ourselves. I believe all of those are in keeping with the Christmas spirit.”

Generosity is especially important, she says. It’s the first of the six perfections in Buddhism. Those who follow Buddhist teachings look for opportunities to be generous every day, not just at certain times of the year. Henline says she knows that is something many faiths have in common.

She clarifies, however, that generosity doesn’t always have a financial definition. It’s more than just giving money.

“It may mean giving of your time, listening to someone,” she says. “There are many forms of being generous.”

Similarly, those who follow the teachings of Buddha believe in taking as many opportunities as possible to get together with family members and friends. They are taught to tell people how much they care for them because they never know when they might not have that chance anymore.

While Henline doesn’t view Buddhism as a religion as much as a set of guidelines for life, she says it’s still possible to practice spiritual reflection throughout the year, just as Christians do at Christmas and other times.

“Most of the people who follow Buddha’s teaching engage in meditation,” Henline says. “It’s a daily thing. We have appreciation for the wisdom that has been passed down through the generations — what we call ancient wisdom.”

Anyone who passed by one of the big box stores in the week leading up to Christmas knows there is an unavoidable aspect of consumerism tied to the holiday. However, that is still tied to the Christmas ideal of generosity and gift-giving.

Although the weeks before Christmas can be busy and stressful for retailers, many try to maintain the Christmas spirit by meeting their customers’ needs and providing good-natured customer service. Yet Nathan Wotkyns, owner of Wide Angle Gallery and Print It in downtown St. George, says those are things retailers should do throughout the year, not just at Christmas.

“I like being able to help people and have them feel like they are getting a good deal and good service,” Wotkyns says. “I like taking care of people, and they take care of me. I always tell my customers, you’re what keeps me in business.”

Part of how Wotkyns is able to stay positive even when work is busy and stressful is the fact that he does what he loves, and he loves making people happy. He says money is not his main motivation. He likes to help people.

He also finds inspiration in the generosity of community members. Within a couple of minutes, he names half a dozen community members and businesses who are heavily involved in raising money or purchasing items for those in need.

“There’s a lot of really good people in this town,” he says.

With those people as an example, Wotkyns feels as if local businesses have to follow their lead. He also appreciates the loyalty of his customers and how they have supported his business and artistic pursuits through the years.

That is part of why he often donates to charity. It’s common to see one or two of his scenic photographs among the items in a drawing or silent auction at a number of fundraisers throughout Southern Utah each year.

It’s the same act of giving he provides to customers in the form of his time and energy. Although he typically closes hours earlier, he was still working late Tuesday night, two days before Christmas, to finish a few print jobs for customers who had circumstances that prevented them from getting orders to him earlier.

“I like making people happy,” Wotkyns says simply. “When someone’s in a bind, it’s neat to be able to make people happy.”